Whippet
Grooming Advice:
Whippets, a noble breed have true working purpose, make affectionate and wonderful companions & are easy, yet dignified breeds to show.
With their short coats and relatively easy natures, they are a great introduction to the show ring for the novice. None of the massive shedding of the double-coated breeds nor the wrist wrenching tasks of regular brushing long lengths of coat. Not for them either, the wrapping, blow drying and coat disciplines of some of the more “hair-do” breeds.
The presentation of these “easy wear/easy care” dogs can still be considerable. To keep this fine short coat in optimal condition takes a bit of time and effort.
The Whippet standards call for a short, close and fine coat. I adhere to the analysis approach of assessing your dog’s coat at this point and then making decisions on what shampoo to use. If the coat is just right then you choose Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo used at a ratio of at least 5:1 (i.e. 5 parts water to 1 part shampoo) or up to 10:1
If the coat is too dry then you will need to get some conditioning into the coat. Use the Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo with Evening Primrose. Again use at a rate of 5:1 or up to 10:1.
For particolours use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. Perfect for the white areas or to enrich the fawn/red areas, also excellent on reducing warm/red tones in dark colors such as blues and black. Again use at a rate of 5:1 or up to 10:1.
To brighten the white areas more use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok this product is one of our proudest achievements in helping to maintain a white stain free coat. It’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but with the use of modern technology and high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin, This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm/red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp/wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
These breeds have wonderful eyes and expression for the face and eyes use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It – what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products with the latest technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro-Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean soothe, adds moisture, aids healing and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning.
The coat should not need a conditioner as such after this but does need to have the moisture content of the coat kept up. Conditioners which are acid balanced will, in fact, soften the coat but a moisturizer will keep up the quality and elasticity in the coat preventing dry and brittle coats. use the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as a rinse after shampooing, 1 teaspoon to 1 gal/4 lt. water. Pour this all over and work well into the skin and leave in – do not wash out. This also helps keep any scurf at bay and leaves the coat smelling wonderful and with great healthy vigor and shine. It does not make the coat oily.
Grooming is the fun part. A lot of people use a grooming mitt and the Ultimate Pure Black Boar Bristle Brush. This brush is made from 100% pure black boar bristle and is of the highest quality (from the chest of the boar) and is set into the finest quality aeroelastic rubber base. This brush should last a lifetime. I prefer to blow dry with a warm dryer (not cold) to remove all loose dead hair. Now time for Plush Puppy FAST, this sounds strange for a short-coated breed but the results are remarkable. It leaves the coat with hydration, close-fitting with incredible shine. This formulation does so many things to benefit the result when grooming. We called it FAST because one of the ingredients makes water evaporate quickly, so cutting down the time taken to blow dry. Our research has shown that it can take 50% less time to achieve the finished look. It contains a recently discovered ingredient from the Australian Native Flame Tree that makes dry or old coat feel and look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. It contains a slight hold ingredient for better coat management and a special active ingredient that eliminates static electricity. FAST is probably the most technically advanced formula in the Plush Puppy Range to date. The feedback from those who have been testing FAST for the last 6 months is “simply fantastic, when can we get it!” A light spray over the dog and dry.
Then, use the brush once again or the grooming mitt followed by a few wisps of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust sprinkled lightly onto the coat for inner shimmer. Lightly brush again.
If you have white areas that need attention, then use the Plush Puppy Cover Up Cream, a white paste applied with a damp piece of kitchen sponge. Blend with loose chalk to completely dry. Finish with a light spray of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb. A nice spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher completes the picture to appeal to all the senses.
In between shows, use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat apply a golf ball-sized amount to your hand and massage in and left in the coat to protect and moisturize. For heavier duty protection, you can lightly oil the coat with the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil – good if your dog is outdoors in a harsh climate.
This all may seem extravagant and hard work for a seemingly no-nonsense dog but good presentation is an important factor these days and your dog has to be a complete picture. All the little things make the difference. Attention to 100 things done just 1% better makes a hell of a lot of difference. These were often dogs of kings and noblemen – why shouldn’t they deserve the royal treatment?
